Parish may change building requirements to address flood threat

Monday

Aug 19, 2013 at 11:22 AM

Terrebonne Parish is considering changing construction laws to address the rising waters of the Gulf and sinking of coastal land.

Xerxes WilsonStaff Writer

Terrebonne Parish is considering changing construction laws to address sinking coastal land and a rising Gulf of Mexico. Suggestions include new minimum structure heights, eliminating the use of fill in construction and limiting enclosures under already raised homes. The proposals have yet to be put in the form of an ordinance and Parish President Michel Claudet stressed the process is ongoing and will ultimately require Parish Council approval. The parish received a grant to look at revamping its building ordinance, said Parish Director of Planning and Zoning Pat Gordon. Through that, the parish hired an independent consultant who devised 10 potential reforms for the parish to consider. “Seeing the frequent storms and sea level rise, this is all moving to having a more sustainable future,” Gordon said. “We just can't build like everyone else does” The consultants' report is tied to the National Flood Insurance Program's community rating system. This system gives residents a discount of flood insurance depending on their parish's rating. Gordon said the rating is based on the parish's efforts to exceed the minimum flood protection standards required by the National Flood Insurance Program. The rating system gives parishes points for different laws, efforts and resources employed to better protect and prepare residents for flooding. Currently, the parish shares the highest ranking in Louisiana with two other parishes, resulting in a 20 percent discount on most flood insurance premiums.Claudet said the parish has achieved that ranking through existing building requirements. He added the parish has elevated more than 1,000 homes and demolished about 900 derelict structures largely through federal grants. Gordon noted the rating program is being reformed and that is likely to cause the parish's rating to slip slightly. The potential changes to parish laws are aimed at bolstering that rating and better preparing for continually worsening flood hazard, he said. The consultants' 10 suggestions primarily focus on updated rules for builders but will have major implications for home and business owners. A presentation outlining each of the suggestions can be found at http://www.floodsafeterrebonne.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Terrebonne-Parish-Flood-Mitigation-Finalv9.pdf. That presentation received an icy reception at a local home builders association meeting last week. Some builders are worried the proposals, if made into law, could increase cost and slow development. “If you tell me you have done this with deliberation, show me in good faith that the benefits outweigh the costs,” said Ronnie Shaw, local developer, contractor and engineer. Shaw and other builders raised concerns that a suggestion tied to raising the minimum height a building can be built will increase the cost to build and the cost for insurance other than flood policies. Another calls for stricter rules to lessen the impact of using dirt or other fill to raise the future base of a structure or doing away with such fill altogether. Gordon said fill can be problematic because it there's a flood, it takes up space occupied by water. “We cannot live in this parish without fill,” Shaw said, noting it is in many cases the most cost-effective way to raise a structure. “We just want to see the cost benefit on all of this.”Claudet emphasized that not all of the suggestions will become law. Claudet's office will review the proposals, incorporate input from the public before proposing an ordinance to a council committee and ultimately require full council approval. “We understand that some of these requirements will be burdensome, but we don't think they will be so egregious to slow the building of homes in our area,” Claudet said. “In each and every one of them, we are sensitive to those things.” Parish officials will present the consultant's report again at the Bayou Board of Realtors meeting at noon Thursday. Those interested in attending should contact the Board of Realtors beforehand.

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